Zorro Ranch, a vast 7,500-acre estate located near Stanley, New Mexico, is widely referred to by survivors as Jeffrey Epstein's secondary "house of horrors."

 

Epstein's other house of 'horrors': Zorro Ranch

Zorro Ranch, a vast 7,500-acre estate located near Stanley, New Mexico, is widely referred to by survivors as Jeffrey Epstein's secondary "house of horrors." Purchased by Epstein in 1993, the compound features a 26,000-square-foot luxury mansion, staff cottages, stables, and a private runway. For decades, the property served as an isolated hub where at least ten girls and young women—including prominent survivors Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Annie Farmer, and former assistant Sarah Kellen—were allegedly groomed, isolated, and subjected to severe sexual and psychological abuse.

 

Recent investigations and declassified records have thrust Zorro Ranch back into the national spotlight:

 

Federal Inaction and the Cover-Up Allegations

• Lack of Initial Search: Despite Epstein's arrest in July 2019, the FBI never raided Zorro Ranch, citing a lack of immediate probable cause.
• Jurisdictional Conflicts: Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas launched a state-level probe in 2019 but was asked to stand down by federal authorities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) allegedly failed to share vital cross-jurisdictional files afterward, leading to accusations of a federal cover-up.

State Investigations and the Search for Burials

• March 2026 Raid: State investigators officially raided and searched Zorro Ranch following the public release of redacted DOJ files.
• Unsubstantiated Tip: The search was triggered by a late-2019 email from an alleged former staffer claiming that two young women had been killed and buried in the hills of public land leased near the ranch.
• Bipartisan Truth Commission: The New Mexico State House unanimously approved a legislative truth commission to bypass federal stalls and unearth exactly what happened on the property.

New Testimony and Property Changes

• Sarah Kellen's Testimony: In congressional testimony, former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen detailed severe systemic abuse at the ranch, alleging that she was systematically groomed and that Ghislaine Maxwell played a direct role in her exploitation.
• Current Status: A Texas real estate developer purchased the property in 2023 with plans to build a Christian retreat on the land. While the new owner is actively cooperating with ongoing law enforcement, no physical evidence of criminal activity has been discovered by the current team.
• Memorial: Outside the restricted gates of the ranch, a permanent public memorial featuring signs, photographs, and a cross for Virginia Roberts Giuffre stands to honor the survivors